Missional Christians Don’t Look Away! Acts 3

“A Fresh Look at the First ‘First Assembly’” “The Book of Acts on Becoming a Missional Christian/Church”

The importance of the Holy Spirit to the missional endeavor has been underscored by some of the major voices in the missional conversation. It’s my contention that there are two primary ways the Spirit of mission contributes to missional ministry:

first, by enabling the missional community to discern what God is up to in this or that ministry context; and second, by empowering the missional community to, through prophetic speech and action, adequately represent the kingdom of God to hurting people within the target community.

Acts 3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon….

Here’s another indication of how important prayer was to the first-followers of Jesus.

Can you guess what all the following passages from the book of Acts have in common? Prayer!

“How could something be so close to the power source, yet not be ‘plugged in’?”

To what degree will we allow this question to apply to us?

Sooner rather than later, this church family would do well to set aside some time for a sane, sensible, no- nonsense conversation about how, given our contemporary circumstances and commitments, prayer is going to function as a genuine priority for us as a twenty-first century First Assembly.

… {2} Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. {3} When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. {4} Peter looked straight at him, as did John….

Missional Christians don’t look away when confronted with people in need.

The first-followers of Jesus were empowered to look straight at the world’s suffering people because they believed they possessed the spiritual resources necessary to do something about them.

… Then Peter said, "Look at us … Then Peter said, "Look at us!" {5} So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them….

… {6} Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." {7} Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. {8} He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God….

Missional Christians don’t see hurting, needy people as problems to be avoided, but as opportunities to be seized!

“We are all faced with innumerable opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” -- Chuck Swindoll

“The modern world is said to have made discipleship harder “The modern world is said to have made discipleship harder. But it has also made evangelism easier. Today's world is said to be multiplying crises all around us. But we must never forget that, for the gospel, each crisis is an opportunity.” -- Billy Graham

Do we really believe that for the gospel, each crisis is an opportunity? If we truly held this perspective, our days would be fairly filled with ministry encounters wherein we would reach out to hurting people, prayerfully addressing their painful circumstances in Jesus’ name!

. . . {9} When all the people saw him walking and praising God, {10} they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him….

… {11} While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. . . .

John 14:12-14 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. {13} And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. {14} You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Maybe we need to keep in mind to whom Jesus was speaking when he made this prayer promise.

Is it possible that this prayer promise doesn’t really apply to church-goers who are almost entirely consumeristic in their approach to the Christian faith and life?

Could it be that this prayer promise really only applies to missional disciples who (like the original apostles): have devoted their lives to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with other people, have done what it takes to be genuinely filled with God’s empowering Spirit,

take prayer really seriously each and every day of their lives, are actively looking for hurting people they can pray for, and aren’t afraid to keep praying for people, trusting God with the results?

(Prayer Promise Qualification) “John 14 PPQ” (Prayer Promise Qualification)

I believe that it’s possible to be truck drivers and nurses, financial planners and school teachers, secretaries and students, retail clerks and stand-up comedians, housewives and baristas, retired folk and college professors—in other words, to not be apostles—and yet . . . . . . to possess the same kind of prayer power that Peter and John exercised that day on their way to the temple!

Missional Christians make sure that hurting people understand who it is that’s really helping them: the crucified but risen Christ!

The Isenheim Altarpiece Matthias Grünewald

Remember our previous discussions of this image of John the Baptist pointing toward the crucified Christ can serve as a vivid reminder of what’s ultimately involved in Christian witness?

First, Peter began his sermon making it very clear that the reason why the lame man was healed was not because he and John were especially powerful or godly people.

. . . {11} While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. {12} When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? . . .

Second, Peter then made the point that the reason why the lame man was healed was because the Jesus his hearers had put to death was now alive and answering prayers offered in his name!

. . . {13} The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. {14} You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you….

… {15} You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead … {15} You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. {16} By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see….

Third, Peter then proceeded to assure his hearers that the idea of Israel’s messiah (Christ) suffering on behalf of God’s people—an idea that was not commonly held in among first-century Jews—was indeed predicted in the Old Testament.

… {17} "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. {18} But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer….

Fourth, at this point in his sermon, it seems as if Peter couldn’t help but rush ahead and let his hearers know how they needed to respond to his message (as well as why).

… {19} Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, {20} and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus….

Then, fifth, having called his hearers to repentance, Peter returned to the idea that everything about Jesus was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

… {21} He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets….

(Actually, to be more specific, Peter went on to point out to his Jewish hearers the relationship which existed between the Jesus they had crucified and such Old Testament heroes as Moses, all of Israel’s prophets, and Abraham himself.)

. . . {22} For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. {23} Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'…

… {24} "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. {25} And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' …

A right relationship with Jesus was what being a Jew was all about! A right relationship with Jesus was and is the key to being on the right side of history when God intervenes one final time and brings human history to its grand conclusion!

Finally, Peter concluded his sermon by encouraging his hearers to allow the risen Jesus to do his gracious work of performing a spiritual and moral transformation in their lives (before it’s too late)!

. . . {26} When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Spirit-filled, missional Christians don’t look the other way when they come across hurting, needy people. On the contrary, Spirit-filled missional Christians are actually on the lookout for hurting people they can minister to in the name of Jesus, sharing the gospel with them in the process!

Missional Christians don’t look away!

Missional Christians Don’t Look Away! Acts 3